Starting to look into builds for an upcoming mythic game (Wrath of the Righteous), and wondering if Animal Companions are even viable?
I'm really interested in playing a hunter, but even with Animal Focus (or the Evolution archetype) doubt it would see much use past Mythic tier 3-4.
So if you think it IS even potentially viable (with or without evolutions from the Eidolon), what would you build and why?
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The absolute best (and silliest) animal companion focused build that I've played involves an Aasimar Oracle (either Nature or Lunar) who takes the revelation that gives them a companion. Aasimar have access to the Celestial Servant feat that bumps their companion to a magical beast (which has d10 hit dice and fighter BAB progression) and gives it the celestial template (which lets it smite and gives it resistances). The oracle favored class bonus lets you treat your effective level as higher for one revelation, so you can have a companion at a higher effective druid level than your actual class level.
If you really want, you can also take Scion of Humanity and the Huntmaster feat to bump up your effective druid level one more, as long as you've got a horse, dog, small cat, or bird companion.
That said, even without the Oracle shenanigans, Celestial Servant is a really strong feat choice for a companion focused character. Aasimar are particularly appropriate for WotR, and the Plumekith variant gives you the right stats for a ranged hunter. If you're nice to your GM, you could also potentially drop the SLA for a +2 to Strength, letting you go for a melee approach, too.
On the Mythic side of things, the Hierophant path has Beasts Fury, Mythic Companion, and Blessed Companion. Take Dual Path so you can snag stuff for yourself from Champion, and you should be able to make a pretty solid mythic hunter.
Aasimar have access to the Celestial Servant feat that bumps their companion to a magical beast (which has d10 hit dice and fighter BAB progression
If only that were so. This did get FAQ'd that it just changes their type without actually changing their stats. Linky. But I forgot about that feat, Smite and DR is pretty worth it for the cost of 1 feat.
I could also just go the "expendable companion" route and give it the Bodyguard archetype, and try to focus on its defenses as much as possible. Armor proficiency, In Harms Way feat, and Improved natural Armor evolution (if I go that route). Coupled with the DR/Evil (and potentially DR/Mythic as well) could be fairly hardy if nothing else.
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An aasimar Sylvan sorcerer with Celestial Servant and Evolved Companion would have a pretty hardy animal companion. Combine it with Evolved Summoned Monster and grab Mighty Summons, Mythic Companion, and Blessed Companion from Hierophant via Dual Path, and you'll be able to drop some pretty durable bodies onto the battlefield. Speedy Summons from Archmage will let you drop the summons faster, too, letting you, say, summon some monsters and cast Haste in the same round and giving them all the buff.